See-through innovation NorDan

SEE-THROUGH INNOVATION

NorDan is a European market leader in the design and manufacture of safety windows and doors. Innovation has played a major role in its success to date and it continues to maintain its reputation for quality and originality. The company recently moved into the European Modular Off-Site market where it has already made major gains into the market, as Philip Yorke reports.

NorDan was founded in 1926 by a Norwegian entrepreneurial carpenter called Johannes Rasmussen, who began by making wooden staircases, windows and doors. His enterprise and innovative designs soon meant that he had to invest in larger premises and it was also at this stage hat he decided to focus exclusively on windows and doors. Rasmussen soon put his creative talents to work and set about designing a window that was both versatile and completely secure against the elements, The result was the world’s very first ‘tilt & turn’ window, which became an instant success.

Today the company remains in private hands and is managed by the third generation of its founding family. Nordan has become one of the

world’s most successful and progressive window manufacturers with state-of-the-art facilities in Otta, Ergersund and Arneberg in Norway as well as in Varnamo, Kvillsfors and Tanumshede in Sweden.

In addition, NorDan has a major production plant in Wolsztyn in Poland where the company employs over 1,600 people. In 2018 NorDan recorded sales of NOK 2.5 billion, and in 2018 the Group consisted of ten modern factories, 25 project management offices and a total of over 2,000 employees.

Off-site market expansion

For a number of years NorDan has been reporting strong growth in the ‘Off-Site’ industry sector. As a result of the significant developments in this market the company is now engaged with more than 20 leading European Off-Site clients and delivering full modular solutions across markets in Sweden, Norway, Eastern Europe and in the UK. NorDan told Industry Europe, “The exciting part of this development is the synergy between NorDan, our off-site customers, and the major benefits provided for our joint client-base.

“In the UK as well as well as throughout Europe, we now see significant demand for our high quality aluminium-clad timber windows across the whole of the housing sector. In fact, due to the significant demand for housing in the UK, NorDan has set out a clear ‘off-site strategy that includes accurate product certification, procurement and logistical systems, together with a robust quality assurance system. As a group we are investing further in the expansion in our production unit sectors in order to take advantage of the increase in demand for our products away from the traditional aluminium and PVC window and door products.

For ‘NTech’ read High-tech

For over ten years NorDan has been proud to manufacture and supply the UK market with a range of external entrance doors from Bor of Sweden under the brand name: BorDorren. However, during the last two years a number of factors have influenced the NorDan strategy on external entrance doors and so recently the NTech door range formerly replaced that of the BorDorren range. This included the launch of a brand-new product a little over a year ago called the NTech Security Entrance Door. This advanced high-tech product is being produced at NorDan’s latest state-of-the-art factory in Powodowo in Poland.

The NTech Security Entrance door has all the attributes of NorDan’s well established composite entrance door-set, which offers protection from forced entry and the robustness to cope with extreme weather conditions. The new NTech Security Entrance Door-Set combines the company’s 90 years of manufacturing experience, with Norwegian integrity, and in tandem with NorDan’s unrivalled reputation for innovation. Products manufactured at Powodowo are designed and produced with key commitments relating to customer satisfaction, elimination of defects, environmental awareness and exceptional technical support.

Currently there are seven door styles to choose from in the NTech Range. However with this product range now being the sole external entrance door available to the UK market from NorDan, the company will continue to focus on the further development of the NTech range and its future in the company’s strategic product portfolio. Constant drive for innovation

By constantly asking itself questions about what can be done better, smarter and more beautiful, a steady stream of innovative products and processes has been forthcoming from NorDan. These include the famous ‘Swan Marked Window’ seal of safety, passive windows with insulated frame and sash, pre-finished surface treatments, pre-mounted bushings and pre-glazed windows and doors, to name but a few.

Today the company’s future depends on its ability to outperform and out-class its competitors, therefore there is always constant activity at its headquarters in Moi, Norway. However, the environment, customer comfort and safety remain very much in focus at NorDan. For further details of NorDan’s latest innovative products and services visit: www.nordan.co.uk n